1. This year the Annual Turkey Trap Shoot was held on Sunday
November 6, 2011 at the St. John's Rod and Gun Club. French and I were in Tors
Cove moose hunting that weekend, but were only too eager to leave Saturday
evening to get back to town and ready for the last big shoot of the year. This
years competition consisted of 100 singles, 50 pairs of doubles, and there was
an option to shoot another 50 sporting clays which most of us did.

French, his Dad, and I had a great day shooting, the weather
was awesome, and we all shot well. Monty and the crew in the club house served
an awesome lunch to all competitors, but best of all was the Turkey Dinner later
that evening. Each year the crew cook fresh farm grown Deep Fried Turkey, and a
full Jigs Dinner with all the trimmings. This year didn't disappoint as the meal
was awesome, deserts provided by Bob Barbour were also a big hit. And if all
that wasn't enough, the crew had dozens and dozens of great prizes which they
drew for in a raffle after supper.

From the St. John's Rod and Gun Club Official Site:

The annual club turkey shoot held on November
6, 2011 was another huge success with more than 40 shooters registering for the
trap and sporting clay competitions. This event also served as the club’s way of
saying thanks to all those that help out throughout the year and treated
everyone that attended to a first class meal of deep fried turkey, salt meat,
potatoes, turnip, carrots, cabbages and desserts.

Competition was fierce for the coveted top turkey award with Andrea Bassan and
John Tucker neck and neck throughout the Singles and Doubles events. Bassan was
3 targets ahead of Tucker going into his last round of Singles but dropped 3 (2
on the last station) to tie Tucker with a score of 94 / 100. Bob Nightingale
wasn’t too far behind with a 91.

The trap machines were then switched over to Doubles for the final event. Bassan
tallied 2 – 45’s for a 90 and Tucker did the same. No other shooter could come
close on this windy day. Both Bassan and Tucker waited anxiously for the shoot
off but darkness came early and the pair decided to postpone the shootoff for
another day.

Shooters were then treated to the highlight of the shoot – the deep fried turkey
dinner. This year, organizers fed 60 people – the largest crowd ever to attend a
dinner. Organizers and those in attendance graciously thanked Sandra Bassan and
Josephine Martin for preparing lunch and for watching over the peas pudding
while others found time to shoot. In addition, many thanks were given to Monty
Petipas and Monty’s Restaurant, Whitbourne and to Bob and Alice Barbour of
Ches’s Fish and Chips for their kind and generous donations that made the meal
taste so good. For those who don’t know, Monty’s serves the best soup on the
Avalon and Ches’s, in addition to their fantastic fish and chips, makes a
coconut cream pie that is second to none.

Honourable Mention: Monty Petipas, Jim Legge, Craig Osmond. The boys all tied
during the Singles competition. The shoot off will be held over the winter months
at the club or behind Monty’s Restaurant and Gas Bar in Whitbourne. Details to
follow....